​The SAJBD calls on SA Jewry to #ShowUpForShabbat

The South African Jewish Board of Deputies calls on SA Jewry to #ShowUpForShabbat as part of the global campaign spearheaded by the American Jewish Committee (AJC). This is in response to the horrific attack during Shabbat prayer services at the Tree of Life Or L’Simcha Congregation in Pittsburgh, which left 11 people dead. This coming Shabbat on Friday, 2 November 2018 and Saturday, 3 November 2018 - we call on the Jewish community to flock to synagogues throughout South Africa in support of this powerful initiative.

Through #ShowUpForShabbat, we will join world Jewry in expressing a united stand against hate and antisemitism and our determination not to allow such horrific attacks to prevent us from affirming our Jewish identity. As AJC CEO David Harris has commented, “The community of conscience must stand as one, whether in the face of the hate-motivated attack against a black church in Charleston, which took nine lives, or a synagogue in Pittsburgh, which took 11 lives”. As South Africans, we remember how earlier this year, in our own country deadly attacks were carried out at mosques in Verulam and Malmesbury.Tweet and post about your plans to attend Shabbat services this weekend using the hashtag #ShowUpForShabbat.

The 2016 Yom Hashoah Ceremony was held at the West Park Cemetery. Holocaust survivor, Veronica Phillips, shared her story with the crowd which consisted of hundreds of school students, community members are press.